Circuit-interrupter.



J. N, MAHONEY. CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER. AYPPLICATIONFILED AUG. 11, I9I3.

Patented June 12, 1917.

4.8HEETS-Sllill l.

WITNESSES:

| EN 0R ATTORNEY J. N. MAHONEY. CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER.

. APPLICATION FILED AUGJI, 1913- 1,229,768.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WiTNESSES:

INVENTO ATTORNEY Patented June 12, 1917.

J. N. MAHONEY. CIRCUIT INTERRUPIER.

' APPLICATION FILED AUG.11.19|3- 1,229,768.

Patented June 12, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

vB iigi INYEgTOR I ATTORNEY J. N. MAHONEY. CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER. APPLICATION FILED AUG-H, r913.

Patented June 12, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

ATTORNEY VANIA.

unrrnn STATESPATENT orrrou.

- .rosnrn 1v. MAHONEY,. or WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA,

I .nousr. .nnno'rmc AND MANUFACTURING coMrAiW. A oonrona'rron or rnnnsrn' ASSIGNOB. 'ro, wris'rmeoInoUrr-Inrnnnurrmz...

Application filed. August 11, 1913. H Serial No. 784,083t

To all whomz't may concern:

Be it known that I, J osnrnN. MAHo EY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of \Vilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gircuit-Interrupters, of which the following is a specification.

My'invention relates to circuit interrupters and it has particular reference to inter-1 I rupters of the reactance type that are employed in high potential circuits.

One object of my invention is to provide a circuit interrupter that has means for insorting a reactor in an electrical circuit under predetermlned conditions of operation.

Another object of my invention is to pro- I vide an efficient circuit interrupter of the reactance type.

The opening and closing of high potential electrical circuits causes a disturbance in the circuits. Heretofore, this disturbance has been partially overcome by the insertion of a resistor in the circuit under predetermined conditions. However, the resistors thatwere used were usually relatively large and consequently a source of trouble.

I rovide reactors for dissipating the disturbance set up when the circuit interrupter is operated and I provide a structure whereby the reactors are mounted'on the terminal members of the circuit interrupters and immersed in oil, thereby permitting the use of a reactor of minim-um size.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a front view, partially in section and parthree pole circuit interrupter embodying my invention; Fig. 5 is a side view partially in sect'on and partially 1n elevatlon,

of the main operating mechanism embodied in my invention, and Fig. 6 1s a top plan vview'of the operating mechanism shown in Fig. 5.

vA three pole circuit interrupter 1 com-.

prises three interrupting units 2 and a main operating mechanism 3. The interrupting units 2 severally comprise a tanker that is mounted on a base 5 andprovided with a Specification of Letters Iatent. Jatented June 12, 1917. i

cover 6, condenser terminal bushings 8, -reactors 31 mounted on the lower ends thereof, main stationary contact members 33, auxiliary stationary contact members'3 5, main movable contact members 22, auxiliary .mov-- inclosed in a the cover member. 6 by a plurality of bolts sertion of two operating rods 15 and 15 that are operated by the main operating mechanism 3 for the purpose of actuating the operating mechanisms 13 and 12, re-

spectively. The condenser terminal bushings are supported by collars 7 that; are attached to the cover 6 by a plurality of bolts 9. Around the lower or convergingportion 23 of each condenser terminal bushing 8 is disposed a glazed porcelain sleeve 24..

conductor 26 is disposed within each of the tionary contact members 33 are secured to the conductors 26 through the plates 29 and the collars 25 and the auxiliary stationary contact members 35 are mounted on insulating members 34: that are also secured to the plates 29. One terminal of each of the reactors 31 is connected to one of the contact members 33 and the other terminal is connected to the corresponding auxiliary contact member 35, substantially .as shown.

The auxiliary movable contact members I able contact members 18, operating rods 16 and 19 and operating mechanisms12 and 13. I The operating mechanisms 12 and 13 are housing 11 that is secured to condenser terminal bushings 8 and it has attached thereto at its lower end a metal 18 comprise metal brushes that are resiliently supported by springs (not shown) which are disposed in receptacles 7 5 having'asubstantially vent, discharge points. The receptacles 75 are supported on a bridging member 17 and this is operatively connected to the operating rod 16. The mam movable contact rounded external surface to premembers 22 are mounted .on a bridging pivotally connected one end of a lever 7 2 the other end of which is pivotally mounted to one end of a lever 73 the other end of which ,is pivotally mounted on a stationary member 71. At the upper end of a stationary member 7 8 is pivotally mounted one end of. I a link 79 the other end of which is pivotally attached with one end of a link 69 to a point 71 intermediate the ends of the lever 72. The other end of the link 69 is connected to one arm 68 of a bell crank lever 68 that is pivotally mounted on a pin 70. The other arm 66 of the bell crank lever-68 is connected to one end of a link 65. The other end-of the link 65 is connected to one end 64 of a lever 61 that is pivotally mounted at a point 63 to a stationary member 63. The other end of the lever 61 is connected to a pin 62 that is carried by the rod 15.

The rod 16 is provided with a metal cap 80 to which is connected one end of a lever 81 the other end of which is pivotally mounted on a stationary member 82. A link 83 is pivotally mounted at one end to the upper end of a stationary member 84 and at its other end to a point 85 on the lever 81 with one endofa link '86. The other end of the link 86 is connectedtoa lever 87 that is operatively"connected to therod 15 by a pin 87.

The operating mechanism 3 is inclosed in a housing 36 and comprises an operating electromagnet 37 a hand operating lever 88, a main lever 46, an accelerating and retarding device 41, a trippingdevice 42, a link 55 having a slot 54therein, a link and an irregularly shaped bell crank lever 56. The

main lever 46 is pivotally mounted on a pin 47 carried by a stationary member 48 and has connected at a point 89 intermediate its ends one end of a link 45, the other end of which is connected to the movable core member 38 of the electromagnet 37. To one end 90 of,

the lever 46 is pivotally connected a link 49 that has attached to its lower end the piston rod 50 of the accelerating and retarding device 41. The other end 51 of the lever 46 is bifurcated and providedwith a pin 53 that is adapted to move in the slot 54 in the link 55. The link is pivotally mounted at a point 91 on the hand operating lever 88. One end of the link is pivotally attached to a point 92 on the lever 46 and its other end is connected to a point 93 on one arm 94 of the bell crank lever 56. The other arm 95 of the bell crank lever 56 is operatively connected to one end of a link 40, the other end of which is connected to a pivotally mounted lever 60. The upper end 59 of the lever 60 is operatively connected to the rod 15 for operating the operating mechanism 13. The arm 94 of the bell crank lever 56 is also operatively connected to one end of a link 39, the other end of which is Opera'- tivelyconnected to a lever 96. The lower end of the lever 96 is pivotally mounted on a stationary member, and the upper end thereof is operatively connected to the rod 15 for actuating the mechanism 12.

The tripping device 42 comprises a winding 97, a movable core member 43 and a bell crank lever-44 that has a latch 98 on one arm thereof. The latch 98 engages a roller 99 that is mounted on a projection 99 of the lever 46 to retain the same in its closed position. The tripping device 42 is also provided with a hand tripping rod 103 for manually trippingv the latch 98.

The accelerating and retarding device 41 comprises a cylindrical casing 100, a piston 101 that is attached to the piston rod 50 and a helical spring 102 that bears against cylinder 100.

The position assumed by the link 55 and the operating lever 88 as shown by the full lines in Fig. 5 is the folded position of the manually operating device to permit of electrical operation. However, when it is desired to manually operate the circuit interrupter the casing 36 is raised and the lever 88 moved outwardly. The outward movement of the lever 88 causes the lever 46 to turn in a counter clockwise direction by reason of the pin 53 sliding in the slot 54.- Thus the bell crank lever 56 is turned from a position shown with dot and dash lines to a position shown by the full lines in Fig. 5. During the first part of the movement of the bell crank lever 56 the arm 95 moves substantially over its center line and very little relative movement is imparted to the lever 40, lever 60 and the operating rod 15, thus, the operating mechanism 13 is not actuated. But the arm 94 is moved over its greatest angle and consequently the link 39, lever 96 and the rod 15 are moved a maximum amount to actuate the operating mechanism 12. Thus, it will be seen that the auxiliary contact members that are operated by the operating mechanism 12 are moved into engagement first and the main contact members remain practically stationary. After the bell crank lever 56' has turned a prede termined amount thearm 94 travels over its center line and does not impart any appreciable motion to the rod 15 but the arm 95 travels over its greatest angle imparting a relatively great motion to the rod 15. Thus, after the operating mechanism 12 is Thelupward movement of the piston rod 50 durin theClOsin aeration com aresses the i lpgfor purposes hereinafter more fully set forth.

If it is desired to trip the circuit interrupter the rod 103 is'raised to cause the movable core member 43 to engage the lever 4 1 which, rotates to disengage the latch 98 4 from the roller 99. The energy stored in .12;

the spring 102 causes the lever 46 to turn in a clockwise direction.. Thus the bell crank lever 56 turns to first actuate the rod 15 and the operating mechanism 13. Then the arm 94 of the bell crank lever 56 moves over its greatest angle to actuate the rod 15 and its operating mechanism 12 to completely open the circuit.

.When it is desired to electrically operate the circuit interrupter the winding of the electromagnet 37 is energized to operate the lever 46 in substantially the same manner as was hereinbefore described with respect to manual operation.

. -When the rods 15 and 15 are operated in succession to close the circuit interrupter they move in a direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 2 and operate the various mechanisms 12 and 13 01": the several units.

Assuming the circuit interrupter to be in its closed position as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, to open the same, the rod 15 is operated, as hereinbefore set forth, to move the lever arm 61 which transmits its motion through the link 65, bell crank'lever 67 and link 69 to the lever 72 that moves the rod 19 downwardly to disengage the contact members 33 and 22. Then the rod 15 moves transmitting its motion to the lever 87 link 86 and the lever 81 to move the rod 16 downwardly to disengage the auxiliary contact members 18' and 35.

Smce the terminals of the reactors 31 are connected to the contact members 33 and 35, the reactors 31remain connected in series with the circuit to be interrupted a short 'tlme after the mam contact members are disengaged, thus, dissipating any disturb;

ance or transient wave that is incident to the interruption.

To close the circuit the rod operates first, as hereinbei'ore set forth, transmitting its motion to the rod. 16 to close the contact members 18 and 35 andtl us insert the reactors 31 in circuit. This is followed by the operation of the rod 15 to cause the engagement of the main contact members. Thus, the reactors are inserted first to diss'ipate any surge or disturbance that may be incident to the closing of the circuit.

hen the circuit is interrupted, the piston 101 moves downwardly very quickly at the first under the force of the spring 102 to accelerate the opening of the circuit and then the piston compresses the air in the lower portion of the cylinder 100 to retard the motion and thus prevent the jarring that is usually incident to the movement of the contact members.

I do not limit my invention to the specific structure described, as many modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A circuit interrupter comprising stationary terminal members, reactors surrounding the said terminal 111embers,and

aneans for connecting the said reactors in the clrcult before, and disconnecting the same after, the circuit is closed and opened, respectively. v

2. In a circuit interrupter, the combination with stationary terminal members, of reactors surrounding the said terminal members, and an operating mechanism for connecting the said reactors in the circuit before, and disconnecting the same after, the circuit is closed and opened, respectively. 3. In a circuit interrupter, the combination with terminal members, of impedance. devices surrounding the said terminal members, and means for connecting the said impedance devices in circuit before, and disconnecting the same after, the circuit is closed and opened, respectively.

41:. A circuit interrupter comprising tcrmi nal members, reactors surroumling.the said terminal members, main and auxiliary stationary contact members mounted on the said terminal member and electrically con nccted to the said reactors, movable main and auxiliary contact members, and means for operating the. said movable contact mem-- bcrs to eil'ect engagement of. the auxiliary contact members bcl'ore, and disengagement ai'ter, the main contact members.

5. A circuit interrupter comprising lcr minal members,- reaclors surroumling the said terminal members, stationary main and auxiliary contact members supported by the said terminal members and electrically conncctcd to the said reactors, movable main and auxiliary contact members for engaging the said stationary contact members, and an operating means for the said movable contact members.

6. A circuit interrupter eomprisii'lg coudenser terminal bushings, reactors surrounding the lower ends thereof and supported thereby, main stationary contact members mounted on the lower ends of the said bushings and electrically connected to the said reactors, auxiliary stationary contact members mounted on the lower ends of the said bushings, insulated therefrom and electrically connected to the said reactors, main oil-containing receptacle, condenser terminal bushings extending therein, reactors surrounding the lower ends of the said bushings and supported thereby, stationary main and auxiliary contact members supported by the said bushings and electrically connected to the said reactors, movable contact members,

and means for effecting engagement of the,

said auxiliary contact members before, and disengagement after, the main contact members.

8. In a circuit interrupter, the combination with stationary termlnal members having main and auxiliary contact members mounted thereon and cooperating movable main and auxiliary contact members therefor, of impedance devices surrounding the terminal members and operatively connected to the stationary auxiliary contact members, and means for elfecting engagement of the said auxiliary contact members before, and

disengagement after, the main contact mem bers.

9. A circuit interrupter comprising an oilcontaining receptacle, condenser terminal bushings, extending therein, reactors surrounding the lower ends of the said bush ings, and means for connecting the said reactors in the circuit before, and disconnecting the same after, the circuit is closed and opened, respectively. I v

- a circuit interrupter, the combination with stationary terminal members having two sets of contact members mounted thereon and movable cooperating contact members therefor, of reactors surrounding the said terminal members and operatively connected to one set of stationary contact members, and means for effecting engagement of one set of contact members before, and disengagement after, the other set.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 29th day of July JOSEPH N. MAHONEY. Witnesses:

B. B. Hmns, M. C. Mnnz. 

